Anglian Sports and Social Club entrance on Cromer Road, Norwich. Photo: Steve Adams

The Anglian Windows Social Club, in Holt Road, near Norwich Airport, shut after 30 years last Friday.

It had been enjoyed by thousands of people over the years, with football, darts and short mat bowls teams among its regular users.

But former manager Barney Hewitt claimed interest from club members had petered out, spelling the end of an era - its fate mirroring that of several other sports clubs in the city to have closed in recent years.

The site has been put up for sale and the the 70-year-old, who was at the helm of the club for 28 years, added he hoped it could continue in its present form - but no buyer has yet been found.

“I’m very sad that it’s closing and nobody else has come to take it on,” said Mr Hewitt. “It was through lack of interest from the members.

“We were relying on outside functions and the company wasn’t prepared to put money into something that wasn’t used by the workforce.

“I think they’ve found that people just socialise outside of work.

“They don’t use social clubs now - all big companies have got rid of social clubs.”

He said users had all found alternative venues, and efforts to find new buyers were continuing.

The club - affectionately known as “windows” by regulars - was purpose built near to Horsford Manor in 1984.

The manor itself was converted into offices more than 40 years ago and used as the Anglian Windows headquarters, before falling into disrepair.

The building was empty for years until permission to demolish it was granted in 2012, making way for a new-build office block.

Although the fate of the sport and social club is currently unclear, the site could prove attractive to property developers.

Anglian Home Improvements, formally known as Anglian Windows, released a statement explaining the closure.

It said: “Throughout its history the Anglian Windows Social Club has been at the heart of many company events and social gatherings. “In its early years it provided excellent facilities for all Anglian people to enjoy, however in recent years the club has been poorly attended with many events loss making.

“Increasingly the club has had to raise funds by promoting external events to keep it a viable proposition.

“The last set of accounts published in October 2013 show the club as loss making and Anglian Home Improvements confirmed that it was not willing to subside a club that is no longer supported by its employees.”

The spokesman confirmed Mr Hewitt had retired this month.

“Despite having tried many initiatives to reinvigorate the club he acknowledges the era of the social club is over and the Anglian Windows Social Club closure is in line with many other similar company club closures across the county in recent years,” the spokesman added.

Former manager Mr Hewitt admitted the closure did not come out of the blue, but said he would miss his staff and former regulars.